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The story of Janine Velske – teamer of arche noVa

22. February 2017 - Deutschland

It was five years ago when Janine Velske was standing in front of a class for the very first time. On January 15th 2012 she and a colleague of arche noVa conducted a project day about free-trade. This was a great experience for Janine Velske, a student of business studies. Finally she was professionally doing something she was completely positive about: critically and intensely engaging in questions about globalization and sustainable development with children.

It was rather by chance that Janine Velske started her business studies in Dresden in 2010. But studying was more of a duty than a pleasure to her. Instead, her interest in ecological and social questions increased. “The one-sided perspective of this program of study was annoying me more and more”, Janine Velske recalls today. Her desire to do something else alongside her studies grew. A friend told her about the education department of arche noVa. She was surprised when she heard that she could get active herself after a phase of training. Ultimately she decided to try it.

Meanwhile, Janine Velske has been intensely engaging in global topics for five years. “It influenced my way of thinking significantly”, she tells. “When I consume something I know how that affects others.” So before she buys something new she reflects whether she really needs it or can get a second hand version of it. She would like to be more consistent overall, but this is something “one can strive to improve throughout one’s whole life”, she states serenely.

As a member of the arche noVa education team Janine Velske learned many new things over time. This applies both to her personal life and her pedagogical skills. She knows that methods which work well in one class might fail in another. “Every class has different needs”, she says. By now she is able to adjust to the varying situations very well.

So it is not surprising that Janine Velske changed her plans for the future. Though the contents of business studies are important to her she could never imagine working in a company. Now she knows what she wants to do instead: become a teacher. She enjoys being in front of a class and witnessing the student’s achievements.

Janine Velske thinks it is important that global topics reach children and teenagers. “Our project days focus on fundamental issues across the whole world which are often neglected at schools”, she emphasizes. “We want to encourage children and teenagers to change their perspectives. We want them to think outside the box and step into the shoes of people in the global south.” At best it makes them draw conclusions for their own behavior.

Concluding, Janine expresses a big wish of hers: “I wish that in the future more teenagers leave school as humans and not just as future employees.”